Delivery mechanism for labeling-machines.



J. ALEMANY.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE22,1914. 1 gg @Pjffio Patented Sept. 1, 1914;. I p 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

In ALBMAIEEZ DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MAGEIEES APPLIOATION IILED JUNEZZ, 1914.

n 1 A 1 p 1 @531, a Pamnteu Sem. 1, 19142 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3] WW Mien J. ALBMANY. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MAOHINES, APPLICATION FILED JUNE22,1914. 1 a 1 @g yfi n Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. ALEMANY. DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES. APPLICATION rum) JUNE 22, 1914.

L186g Patentenl Sept, 1, 1914..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Wren snares PATEN FFlCE.

JOAQUIN ALEMANY, or HABANA, -(J-'UBA, assreivca-ro HAVANA coMMEacIAL COM- PANY, or HABANA, CUBA, A conroaarroiv on NE JERSEY.

DELIVERY MECHANISM FOR LABELING-MACHINES.

Specification-of Letters Patent.

. Patented Sept. in 19141..

Application filed June 22, 1914. Serial No 246,536.

To allwiz'omz'tmay concern:

Be it 'kn'own that I, J A UIN ALEMANY; a citizen of Cuba, residing at Haban'a, Cuba, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Deliver r Mechanism for Labeling-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to ma chines for applying revenue stamps and from the bottom thereof and carried toan' intermittently moving conveyer which transports th'emfrom the machine to a suitable point for'collecting and packing, said pack ages being given a quarter turn during their passage from the channel to the conveyer to change them from a flatwise to an endwise position.

A further object of the invention is directed to a'simple means in the form of feelers that contact with the sides of each package and the end of each label thereon as it travels along the conveyer and in case of failure of the proper devices to seal the, ends of the label to the package, engage such ends and hold them in position adjacent the package that the next advancing package contacting therewith to move it forward will press said ends against the package sides and causethein to adhere thereto. I

l Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the ap pended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a stamp or label applying machine provided with the improved delivery mechanism. Fig.2 is a similar sectional view through the niachine'and the delivery mechanism taken at right angles to Fig. 1. {Fig 3 is a top plan view of the intermittently-movable package conveyor. Fig. 4 is an enlargedsectional view of theloWer-end of-the package channel on the line '4e4 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the package channel enlarged. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the line 66 Fig. 5. Fig.

7 is an elevation-of the lower end of the package channel and the adjacent portion ofthe convey'er. 'Fig. 8 .is a sectional view through the conveyer on the line 88, Fig. 7.

In thedrawings 10 indicates the supporting frame of a'machine for applying reve nnc' stamps or labels to packages, said frame supporting a ilat horizontal table 11 having an openingtherethrough. Extending through said opening and supported therein is-a vertically disposed channel 12 into which packages to be labeled or stamped are'fed by a vertically reciprocating plunger Iii-"operated in any suitable manner. Adjacent the upper end of the chfannel'l2 and extending vertically an indefinite" distance fisa'chute 'l within which packages'to be stamped are placed,.said packages descendjingthe chute bygravity. The lowermost package in the chute is pushed laterally th'er'edrom by any suitable means over the IllO'li'iSil' oi the channel into position below theplungerw and is mhved by said plunger into thejnpperend of the channel'12 past the stamp or label applying devices 15,

which told the label around the package.

Below the magazine 16 for labels is a Vertically movable suction head 17 that withzdraws the labels one at a time from the bottom of the'magazine and carries them into positionto grasped by a jaw 18 on one end of a reciprocating bar 19. Alt the proper time the label is drawn b said jaw 'froni'the snction head 17 and carried into the channel 12 above folding devices 15, passing on: its-way "an adhesive applying device 520 that descends and coats the label with paste'or glue. After the label has been properly placed over the folding devices theta-lief the jaw 18 encounters a stop 21 that opens 'the jaw and releases the label.

"Within the channel 12'areyiel'olin means 92 and 23,'pre ferably spring actuate plates,

which press the. packages against the" sides of the channel and prevent them falling therethrough by gravity. For illustration,

se y ,age of the group being pushed the means 22 comprise two spring fingers or platesfixed at'one end to an inner wall of the channel, their lower ends being free. The yielding means 23 is formed by aplate hinged on the outside of the channel, its lower free end projecting throughan opening in said side and held against the packa ,.coiled spring. The length of channel-way controlled by the yielding de vices is such as to retain at all times in said v channel half a dozen packages, more or yielding plate 24 secured to a rock shaft 25 pivoted on the outside of the channel 12 and bearing at its free end against the lowermost package. A lip 26 is preferably formedon he free'end of the yielding plate 24 and projects beneath thebottom packe t he bottom of the channel to prevent the packages falling therethrough. 1n the present instance a spring 27 fastened at one end-to the channel 12 and at its other end toan arm the plate 2 4 with sufficient pressure against the packa e to prevent it and the super posed pac ages falling from the channel. A second and extending upwardly is at the properv time moved by means hereinafter. described,-

toswing the plate 24 away from the retained package and permit thereof. In the operation of the machine two or three packages are usually 'main-' tained at the lower end" of the. channel 12, and form what is herein called the lower roup.

the channel 12 into: groups, wh le taining asuflicient supply in said channel ready to be withdrawn, therefrom, is to; divide the weight of the packages and re-,

lieve the spring plate 24 ,and. its .lip 26 .of excessive pressure that would tend to interfere' with the accurate and certain operation of these parts.

A rock Shaft 29 pivoted .in'bracketsa the bottom of the channel 12. has secured there on a shelf 30 adapted at timesto be brought into horizontal position below the channel 12 as in Fig. 4, butsufliciently far below the outlet'thereof to support a package" it has escaped from, the'plate 24;. 1' ing upwardly 'from: one side of the shelf 30 is, a fixed finger or stop 31; a similar finger or stop seemms above the shelf'on the opposite side and is adapted te moye to opposite the finger :and' pushes said slide longitudinally tointroduction v of each v depending from the shaft-25 holds arm '28 also fixed on the shaft 25 the release The object of separating the packages-in main-J after ojecticense and from the fixed stop for the purpose of clamping therebetween each package that descends upon the shelf. The movable stop 32 is mounted on a slide 33 movable transversely of the shelf 30 in a guide plate 34 and held in said guide by a screw' 35 extending through a slot in theslide 33. A spring 36 is connected to the slide and to the shelf '30 and draws the finger 32 toward the finger-31 for the purpose of a gripping the package. The fingers are separated positively at the proper time by a curved track 37 concentric with the axis of the rock shaft 29-which strikes the end of the slide 33 32:, or a roller thereon,

separate the fingers. One end of the curved track 37 is fastened on the lower end of a rocking lever 38 fulcrumed at 39 intermediate its ends to a bracket on the channel 12 andhasa roller on its opposite end that bears against a cam 40, by the rotation of which cam said lever 38 is caused to rock and the curved track 3? moved to and from the slide 33 for operating the same. A spring 41 attached to the lever 38 holds the same'in continuous contactwith the cam 40. The cam is mounted on a constantly rotating shaft 42 on the outer end of which is a gear wheel 43 in engagementwith a gear wheel 44 on the main shaft 45..

The shelf 30 swings through an, arc of about 45 degrees from the horizontal position indicated by Fig. 4 to the inclined position of Figs. 2 and 7 This movement is imparted to the shelf by a cam 46 on a shaft 47 driven through beveled gearing 48 from a shaft 49 parallel to the shaft 42 and provided on its outer end with a spur gearfiQ driven by the gear wheel 44 on the main shaft 45. The-cam 46 actuates areciprocating bar '51through a roller 52 thereon from which bar depends a finger 53 connected by a link 54 vwith an arm 55 fixed on the shaft 29 that carries the shelf 30. On the link,54'is a finger 85 that at suitable times strikes the.

:arm 28 and rocks it slightly, the nioyement turning the shaft 25 sufficiently tow'ithdraw the plate 24 from-pressing against}.th;e bottom package and releasing the same. A spring 56 suitablyapplied holdsthe roller 52 in contact with the cam 46. I

' At a suitable distancebelowthe channel "12 is a conveyer 57 upon which the packages are deposited from the shelf 30, and; by means of which they are carried from the machine to any point desired. This conveyer is shown in the present instance in; an

inclinedpcsition extending in an upward direction as it; asses :out of'the machine. The frame oft e conyeyer is made in the present instance of two anglefbars 58, that. are placed in 'parallel relation in such man jl inersas to form two sides and a bottom for the; coli eyer, 1m'meliliately.v beneath thei titled with a channel 12 the sides of the conveyor project upwardly a suitable distance in the forrnot cheek plates 59, from the top. of. each of which is an angular extension 60 in the plane or the plates between which extension the shelf 30 swingswhen turned to its lowermost position. Mounted on each side of the conveyor at its lower end below the cheek plates 59 and running parallel withthe angle bars 58 are two guides 61 in which a slidebQ reciprocates longitudinally of the conveyer. On the upper'or forward end of said slide is an upright push plate 63 standing at a right angle to the slide. Pivctcd at the opposite end of the slide 62 is a connecting bar (34 the opposite end of which is attached by a crank pin to a crank disk 66 carried on one end of a shaft 67, the other end of said shaft being prosprocket wheel 68 driven by a chain 6.) from sprocket wheel 70 fast on the horizontal shaft l7. The continuous rotation of the shaft 67 and crank disk 66 causes the slide 62 to move longitudinally in the conveyor 57 and advance the packages delivered by the shelf 30 into the conveyor toward its upper outer end. I

After a package has passed out of the channel 12 onto the shelf and has been clamped by the fingers 31, 32, said shelf is swung downward between the cheek plates, the package clamped therein is then released and falls upon the bottom of the conveyor 57 against the plate 63, on the slide 62. lhe package has by this movement been given a quarter turn, changing from the horizontal position it held in the channel into a substantially vertical or slightly inclined upright one, resting on one of its narrow edges with the stamp or label encircling it in a horizontal direction instead of a vertical direction as before. Fastened on. the outer side of each cheek plate. at the top and loottcin thereof are spring fingers 71, and 72 that project through openings in said, check plates into [the path oi the packages as'they are pushed by the slide 62 along the conveyor and are sprung outward and so held by each successively advancing package until beyond the free ends of the lingers which then return to position and lie within the side edges of the packages, serving as stops toprevent said packages moving down the conveyor. Betweenthe fingers 71 and 72 on each side is a finger or feeler 73 also fastened onthe same cheek plate but longer than the stop lingers 71, 72, that bear continuously against the labels on the sides of one or two of the passing packages and by their resiliency. insurethe adhesion of the labels on the edges thereof. Immediately under eachfinger 7 3 and secured by the same fastening means is a feeler or finger 74. These feelers extend through the same cpenings,-' as the fingers 73, are "slightly shorter than the lingers 71 and 72and their free ends lie nearer the center line of the conveyer than said lingers,

as clearly indicated in Fig. 8. These feelers 74 are of such length that after a package has been moved as far as possible by the reciprocating slide 62 they slip from the edges of and in behind said package to engage the ends of the label should the latterfail to adhere to the package and hold it in such position that the next advancing package will press uponsaid ends and force them against the package in front causing them to adhere thereto. 4 I

A short distance in advance of the cheek plates 59 on the under side of the conveyor is a transverse shaft 7 5 upon WhlClllS mount ed a drum 7 6. A. similar druni 77 is inountx" the upper extreme end of the conveyer and around said drums passes a belt 7 upon which the packages are pushed by theslide and carried to the end of the conveyor. .011 k: haft of the belt drum 76 is a ratchet wheel 79 with which a pawl. 80 engages, said pawl being pivoted on an arm 81 rocking on the shaft 75 and operated by a rod 82 that nds down one side of the conveyer beyond the cheer: plate 59 and is guided thereonin any suitable manner. A linger fastened on the slide 62 wil, at each upward movement of said slide, strilre the lower end of the rod 82 and rock the arm 81 with its pawl 80, imparting sufficient. rotation to the drum 76 through the ratchet and pawl to intermittently advance the packages on the belt toward the end of the conveyer a'distance not less than the thickness of a package.

In the operation of the machine, at each reciprocation of the plunger 13 a package is pushed down the channel 12 upon an adhesively coated. stamp or label, carrying the label past the "folding devices 15 which wrap it around the package, thence to theupper group Of packages supported by the yielding means 22, 23. The upper group of packages is, by this movement of the plunger forced downwardly a sufiicient distance to disengage the lower package of said group from the'yielding means 23 and fall upon the lower group in the bottom or" the channel. 'lhe shelf 30 it in its lowered position,

in Fig. 2, will be raised to its upper. horizontal position indicated in Fig. 4 toreceire the lower package of the lower group of packages when the plate 24: is retracted to release the same. Vllhen" the shelf is in its lowerposition andabout to rise, the cam 40 will be in such position relative to the rocking lever 38 that the curved track 37 thereon will bear upon'and press against the end or the slide 83 and separate the fingers 31, 82 a sufiicient distance to permit the package that falls upon the shelf to enter readily between the fingers. The cam 46 through its rotation will, about this time, permit the drawn by the spring spring 56 to retract the pla'te51 and through the curved track 37 from contact with the slide 33 which being thus released will, under the influence of the spring 36, move the finger32 against the package and clamp the same against the finger '31. About this time the cam 46 has turned sufficiently to positively actuate'the bar 51, moving it against the action of the' spring 56. The link '54 is by this movement caused to rock the" shaft 29 and swing the shelf 30 to its downward.

position. The'finger 85 on said link is also withdrawn from contact with the arm 28, permitting the plate 24 to beimmediately 27 against the package next following in the channel 12 and prevent it escaping After the shelf 30 has been lowered as described between the extensions of the cheek plates 59, the cam 40 l is again in position to disengage the lever 38, whereupon its spring 41, rocking said lever, the curved track 37 thereon engages with and positively moves the slide 33 to separate the fingers 31, 32, and unclam the package which immediately slides o the shelf and into the conveyer 57 between the cheek plates and against the plate 63 on the slide 62, said package in this position resting on one of its narrow edges with the stamp or label passing around the same in 'a horizontal direction and in line with the feelers 73, 74. The lever 38-remains in the position just described until after the shelf'has been raised, the end of the slide riding over the track 27 which is curved concentrically with the axis of said shelf as heretofore stated. The forward movement of the slide 62 now pushes the package a sutlicient distance to pass the fingers 71, 72 and feelers 74 and then retreats, releasing the package which however is prevented from returning by said fingers. The feelers 73, however, press against the stamp or label on the narrow sides of the package and hold it close thereto while the feelers 7 l spring inward in po sition to hold the ends of the labels close to the package should they be loose or not ad:- hering thereto. The'neXt package, following the same course, pushes thegprevi'ously wrapped package ahead of it, and so on until the most advanced package is pushed upon the belt 78 which is given'anintermit. tent movement at the same timethepac kages are moved, picks sion andcarries upper end ofthe belt.

115" each paokageln succes- ,in two spaced groups, means em step-byfstep to the messes What I claim is 1. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the'packages operable within said channel, separate means within said channel for temporarily' retaining said packages in two separated groups, means for feeding packages singly into said channel above the upper 'gro'u and pushing said upper group downwar "y until the lowermost package thereof passes the retaining means to fall upon the lowergroup, and means for positively operating't'he lower retaining means to release the lowermost package of. the lower group.

2. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, yielding means within said channel for temporari'ly retaining a group of packages above the outlet end of said channel, a second yielding means at the outlet end of the channel for temporarily retaining a second group of packages in the channel spaced frhm the upper group, means for feeding packages one at a time to said upper group and for pushing said upper group of packages down the channel until the lowermost package passes the retainingmeans to fall upon the lower group, and means for positively operating the lower retaining-means to release the lowermost. package of the" lower group.

3. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the package operable'within said channel, separate yielding means within said channel for temporarily retaining said packages for intermittently feeding packages upon the top of the upper group of packages and moving said group bodily through its retaining means until the lowermost package of said group passes said retaining means and falls upon the lower group of packages, and means for positively actuating the retaining means for the lower group of packages to release singly the lowermostlpackage of said group.

4. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel throughwhirh' packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within the said channel, means for temporarily retaining sepa-- rated groups of packages" within said channel, means for feeding packages singly to the upper group of packages and advancing said group along said channel until the lowermost package of the group escapes the retaining means and falls upon the.lower group of packages means for positively op-' erating the 'retalning means or the lower group of packages to release the bottom package thereof, a conveyer for transporting packages from the machine, and a movable support to receive said positively released package and deliver thesame to said con-- veyer.

A package delivering mechanism comprising vertical channel through which packa es descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel,

means for temporarily retaining separated groups of 'acl'rag'es within said channel, means for I'eeding packages singly to the upper groupof ckages and advancing'sai d gr-(nip along said channel until the lowermost package of the group escapes the re t ining 'means and falls upon the lower ,6 clip of packages, means for positively actuating the retaining means for the lower group of packages to release the bottom iackage thereof, a conveyer for transporting packages from the machine, a movable support torec'eive said positively released package, turn the same and transfer said conveyor, and aclampmg means on said support'to hold said package while'lieing turned and transferred.

5. i} package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means within said channel'for' temporarily retaining said packages in two separated PIP-cups, independent mea s "For releasing the lowermost package of each group, a conveye'r itr transporting'the package from the maehine, and'a swinging support at the outlet end of the channel to receive the lowermost package of the lower group when released and transfer the same to said conveyor.

' T. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel. through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operahle within said channel, means within said channel for temporarily retaining said packages in two separated groups, separate means for releasing the lowermost package of each group, a conveyer for transportingpackages from the machine a swinging support at the outlet end of, the channel to receive the lowermost package of the lower group and'dcliver the same to said conveyer fa clamp carri'e'dby said swinging support for holding the package thereon from clispl:1cemcnt,'a1id positirely ,(uieratiug means to actuate said clamp aiul'i-elease said package when said support is in position above said conveyer.

8. A. package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical. channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means also within said channlfor retain.- ino, said. packages in two separated groups, ih depe'nd'ent means for releasing the lower most package of each group, a swinging support at the outlet end of the channel to receive the lowermost package of the lower group when released its retaining means, and a common means for swinging said support to receive and deliver packages and-t0 actuate the releasing means for the lowermost package of the lower group.

9. package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of said channel for temporarily retaining packages thereim, said means comprising a spring actuated plate bearing against the lower package, a swinging support below the outlet end of said channelto receive packages passing therethrougl'. and means for swinging said support toward the channel and at the same time release said retaining mean's from contact with the lowest package to permitthe latter falling upon the support, said means by a reverse movement simultaneously lowering the swinging supportand releasing the resiliently operated plate to retain the'next succeeding package in the channel.

10. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying ineansfor the iackages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of said channel for temporarily retaining packages tl-ierein, said m ans comprising a spring actuated plate hearing against the lower package, a swinging support below the outlet end of said channel to receive packages therethrough, means for swinging said support toward, the ehannel and at the same time release said re- I taining means from Contact with the lowest package to permit the latter falling upon the support, said means py a reverse movement simultaneously lowering the swinging suppor't and releasing the resiliently oper a lied plate to retain the next succeeding package in'the channel, a clamp on said swinging support for holding packages thereon 'durthe downward movement of said support, and positively actuated means for disengaging said clamp at the completion of said d'owipvard movement.

-1l. A package delivering mechanism cemprising a vertical channel through which packages descend. label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of saidchamicl for.

ten'lporarilyretaining packages therein. a

swinging support at the outlet end of said channel to receive packages after passing through the channel and released from the retaining'means, a conveyor below said swinging support upon which packages are delivered from the swinging support a reciprocating slideon said conveyer'-for adinsurin which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of said channel for temporarily retaining packages therein, a swinging support at the outlet end of the channel to receive labeled packages when released by the retaining means, a

conveyer below said channel upon which packages are delivered by the swinging support, a reciprocating slide on said'conveyer toadvance packages along the same, and resilient means carried by said conveyer adapted age and spring behind said package to fold in and retai folded the ends of said label should the label applying means fail to seal them, that the next succeeding package may press them in place and cause them to adhere.

13. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means'for the packages operable within said channel, a conveyer below said channel for transporting label packages from the machine, a swinging support at the outlet end of said channel for delivering packages one at a time from the channel onto the conveyer, and means on said conveyer forinsuring the complete attachment of the label should the aforesaid label applying means fail to do so.

M. A package delivering mechanism channel through vwhich packages descend, label applying comprising a vertical means for the packages operable within said channel, a conveyer below said channel for transporting labeled packages from the machine, a swinging support at the outlet end of said channel fordelivering packages one at a time onto the conveyer from the channel. after turning the same aquarter revolution, a clamp on said swinging support for holding the package during delivery and turnand resilient means on said conveyer for th'e complete attachment of the label s ould the aforesaid label applying. means fail to do so.

15. A package delivery mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, a conveyer below said channel for transporting labeled packages from the machine,

ing,

a swinging support at the outlet end of said to bear on the label of such packn In testimony channel for delivering packages one at a time onto the conveyer from the channel after turning the same a quarter revolution, and spring fingers on said conveyer for insurin the complete attachmentofthe label shoul the aforesaid label applying means fail to do so. a

16. A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, a conveyer below said channel for trans porting said packages from the machine, a swinging support at the outlet end of said channel for delivering packages one at a time onto the conveyer from the channel after turning the same a quarter revolution, and a clamp on said swinging support for holding the package during delivery and turning.

17 A package delivering mechanism comprising a vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of said channel for temporarily retaining packages therein, a conveyor below said channel for transporting p'ckages from the machine, a swinging support atthe outlet end of the channel for delivering packages, one at a time onto the conveyer from the channel, and operating I means common to said retaining means and to the swinging support for releasing a single package and actuating said support to deliver the released package.

18. A package delivering mechanism comprising vertical channel through which packages descend, label applying means for the packages operable within said channel, means at the outlet end of said channel for temporarily retaining packages therein, a conveyer below said channel for transporting packages from the machine, a swinging support at the outlet end of the channel for delivering packages one at a time onto the conveyer from the channel, a clamp on said swinging support to hold the package during delivery, operating means common to said retaining means and to'the swinging support for releasing a single package and actuating said support to deliver the released package, and means for operating the package clamp. i

whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOAQUIN ALEMANY,

vWitnesses MIGUEL MoN'rEJ'o, RAooL F. WASHINGTON. 

